The central theme of this book is to appraise the role of planning to maximize the rate of economic growth, and improve the standards of living and quality of life of the people in India since Independence. The book addresses four core areas. First, it delves into the circumstances which led to the adoption of planning and presents a comprehensive analysis of the economic scenario that unfolded in the six decades between 1951 and 2011, documenting shifts in growth and development strategy. Second, it explores the rate and pattern of economic growth, and traces reasons behind the shortfall in growth rate from the target. Third, the book contextualizes the backdrop against which economic reform measures were introduced to understand how different areas and sectors of the economy were integrated with the reform process. Fourth, it analyses the transition from growth measures pursued until the 1970s, to a mix of growth and redistribution from the 1980s, and then to inclusive growth in the 2000s, and finds out how income, especially of the poor and marginalized sections of the population increased. It makes an assessment of the level and change in poverty over time, and the impact of economic growth on poverty reduction. These four thematic areas of the book are essential to understand the process of economic growth and its impact on the lives of the people in India's rapidly changing socio-economic environment. Finally, it assesses the economic scenario in the 2010s, when planning was abandoned, and pinpoints the reasons behind dipping growth rate, and suggests measures for its revival. The debate around growth has been an important feature of economic planning in India since Independence. This book deals with the wide range of issues related to the country's growth and development between 1951 and 2011, covering the 11 Five Year Plans formulated and implemented during this period, as well as in the decade after that. The author traces the changing nature of planning over time-from rigid state control on economic activities, to reliance on market-based planning in the time of economic reforms. He has dealt with the transition from growth measures in the 1970s, to the use of a mix of growth and redistribution in the 1980s, and the economic reforms and liberalization measures from 1991 onwards, and the inclusive growth we have seen in the twenty-first century. The central theme of the book is to analyse the role that planning played in maximizing the rate of economic growth and in improving the living standards of the people. Considering India's rapidly changing socio-economic environment, many of the issues around growth and development are contentious. The author discusses them here with academic rigour and an insider's insight, thus enabling a fair assessment. Title_Pages Tables Preface Introduction Planning_for_Growth_and_Development Mathematical_Models_behind_the_Five_Year_Plans Growth_Investment_and_Savings_in_Five_Year_Plans Growth_and_Development_in_Prereform_Period Planning_Mixed_Economy_and_Jawaharlal_Nehru Economic_Reform_and_Inclusive_Growth Poverty_under_PlanningLevels_and_Change Indian_Economy_in_the_2010s Index About_the_Author
